MOB LAW IN AMERICA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18766, 20 January 1923, Page 9

MOB LAW IN AMERICA

TO BE TAKEN IN HAND. Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyrignt NEW YORK, January 18. (Received Jan. 19, at 7.35 p.m.) The epidemic of lawlessness and mob violence has caused the authorities m three of the southern States to take measures to prevent mobs from seizing the reins of government. The Arkansas legislature is preparing to investigate the lynching of one striker, and the flogging of ethers by armed citizens. Louisiana officials are continuing their investigations into the Ku Kiux Klan reign of terror, which culminated in the Merrouge murders, while in Texas the Grand Jury has begun to probe the identity of the masked men who flogged a man and a woman.—A. and N.Z. Cable. HARRISON TROUBLE SPREADING. NEW YORK, January 18. At Harrison mob law is spreading, and more of the striking railwayman are being flogged in several towns in Northern Ar-. kausas. Others have been ordered to leave the district by the Citizen’s Committee, which is heavily armed.—A. and N.Z. Cable. HERRIN MASSACRE TRIALS. THE JUDGE SUMS UP. NEW YORK, January 18. At Marion the jury in tho Herrin massacre trial has retired.—A. and N.Z. Cable. (Received Jan. 19, at 7.35 p.m.) At the Herrin trial, in the presence of 600 spectators. Judge Hartrell, in summing up, said : “It is murder or nothing. It is not against the law of Illinois for a man to mine coal without belonging to the United Mine Workers of America, and if a man is .assaulted and killed therefore, and for no other reason, the killing is unlawful. You are to fix a penalty of life imprisonment or a minimum term of 14 vears, if you find any or all of the defendants guilty. If one of the accused men committed the crime and the other defendants stcod by and aided or encouraged the crime, it is your duty to find all the defendants guilty.”—A. and N.Z. Cable. JUDGE’S SECRET COURT. WASHINGTON, January 18. (Received Jan. 19, at 9.10 p.m.) According to a Harrison message, the Circuit Judge Shinn said that the socalled citizens’ court, which was operating behind closed doors examining strikers, was working under his authority. The judge refused to explain the unusual situation, beyond saying that the Citizens’ Committee was under oath.—A. and N.Z. Cable.